云南省褐飞虱早期迁入虫源及其发生大气背景分析

为了探明我国西南稻区褐飞虱早期迁入种群的虫源地,为后期预测和防治提供依据,通过对2007—2016年云南植保站4—5月份褐飞虱虫情进行分析,选取出云南省勐海、芒市、江城、师宗、麻栗坡、广南6个代表性站点,利用WRF-FlexPart耦合模式对2013年、2015年和2016年这些站点的早期迁入峰进行了数值模拟,得到近年来云南省褐飞虱早期迁入虫源的虫源地。选取了2013年褐飞虱早期迁入量较大的迁入峰进行了大气背景分析,结合峰期影响褐飞虱迁飞的大气动力场、温度场和相对湿度场,探讨了影响云南省褐飞虱早期迁入的大气背景。研究结果表明:(1)近年来云南省褐飞虱迁入的虫源主要来自缅甸,部分来自老挝和泰国,少数来自越南,还有极少量来自孟加拉国。(2)这一时期,当释放高度分别为1500、2000 m时,褐飞虱的迁飞高度分别集中在2216 m和2489 m,平均迁飞高度分别是2167、2454 m,从不同释放高度回推的褐飞虱迁飞高度的起伏趋势具有较好的一致性,表明模式能较好地反映系统性垂直气流和下垫面起伏对其上层三维流场和种群迁飞的影响。(3)选取2013年5月22—26日发生在云南勐海、麻栗坡和广南的一次典型褐飞虱迁入过程,分析了大气背景场对褐飞虱迁飞的影响,结果显示:受印缅低压控制或影响,高空从境外虫源区至云南降虫区有西南水平气流作为种群输送动力;温场在降虫区东北侧有"低温屏障墙"存在,阻止了种群的继续北迁;垂直速度场上虫源区有上升气流促使种群起飞迁出,降虫区有下沉气流促使种群降落;弱降水形成的拖曳下沉气流对降虫也十分有利;相对湿度场对此次迁飞过程不形成任何胁迫。     

桂东北稻区第七代褐飞虱迁飞规律及虫源分析

褐飞虱是我国水稻上的一种重要迁飞性害虫,在桂东北稻区不能越冬。近年来,作为次害代的第7代褐飞虱在桂东北稻区频繁暴发,桂东北稻区作为褐飞虱南北往返迁飞的重要通道,研究阐明该稻区第7代褐飞虱的迁飞规律及虫源分布,对第7代褐飞虱的早期预警和有效防控意义重大。利用灯光诱捕的方法研究了2007—2010年桂东北稻区褐飞虱的迁飞动态,并运用大气质点轨迹分析平台HYSPLIT(Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory)和气象图形处理软件GrADS(Grid Analysis and Display System)对褐飞虱迁入、迁出峰次进行轨迹分析和气象背景分析。结果表明:(1)桂东北稻区第7代褐飞虱每年都会出现2—3次迁飞高峰,虫量高峰期主要集中在9月底至10月上旬。(2)迁入虫源主要来自江西中西部和湖南中东部稻区,从本地起飞的部分褐飞虱飞行24 h或36 h后能到达广西南部沿海、越南北部和海南等越冬区。(3)925 hPa的温度高则褐飞虱虫量高;盛行东北气流较多的年份,褐飞虱发生严重;微弱的下沉气流和无雨天气有利于褐飞虱的迁飞。     

季风进退和转换对中国褐飞虱迁飞的影响

利用近30年NCEP/NCAR 逐日气象再分析资料及中国褐飞虱逐候灯诱数据,分析季风指数与褐飞虱迁入量的时空关系,以探明季风进退和转换对我国褐飞虱迁入的影响。研究表明:(1)常年3月中、下旬是我国偏北季风转换为西南季风的时期,西南季风开始后的4月上旬是褐飞虱第1次大规模北迁的时期,第1次大规模北迁的主降区为华南稻区和西南稻区,随后迁向其北的其他稻区。(2)6月中旬-8月中旬是偏南季风指数达最大值的时期,也是各稻区褐飞虱北迁峰次最多、迁入量最集中的时期。(3)8月下旬至9月中旬为偏南季风向偏北季风的转换时期,也是褐飞虱北迁的终见期、南迁的始见期,第1次大规模南迁发生在这一时期内,主降区为江淮稻区和江岭稻区。(4)9月下旬至10月中旬是偏北季风的快速增强期、偏南季风的快速衰退期,也是褐飞虱南迁的高峰期。(5)10月下旬开始偏南季风撤出我国大陆,而偏北季风控制我国大陆,由北到南各稻区依次开始出现褐飞虱迁入的终见期。(6)褐飞虱异常发生年份中西南季风北上的早迟决定了褐飞虱在我国迁入始见期的早晚,而偏北季风南下的早迟则决定了我国褐飞虱迁入终见期的早晚。(7)迁入始见期滞后于西南季风的变化,迁入终见期滞后于偏北季风的变化,它们滞后的时间都为1-3候(即5-15d)。     

长江中游稻区夏季飞机航捕迁入褐飞虱的轨迹分析

根据1977～1979年3年的7月份飞机航捕褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens的资料, 应用轨迹分析模型,得出了长江中游稻区夏季迁入褐飞虱的中尺度虫源地及迁入路径。1）湘东北-鄂东南稻区虫源来自桂中至湘中稻区（24°～ 28°N,109°～114°E）,褐飞虱的迁入路径有两条：①柳州→桂林→衡阳→该区;②柳州→桂林→邵阳→该区。2）赣北-鄂东稻区虫源来自桂中至赣西稻区（24°～29°N,110°～115°E）,褐飞虱的迁入路径有一条：蒙山→倏县→宜春→该区。3）湘中、东部稻区虫源来自桂南至湘南稻区 （23°～27°N,109°～113°E）,褐飞虱的迁入路径有一条：南宁→柳州→桂林→该区。     

基于WRF-Flexpart的一次褐飞虱回迁过程模拟研究

褐飞虱是影响亚洲地区水稻生产的迁飞性害虫,其远距离迁飞与种群分布会受到大气环流和局地天气条件的影响。采用WRF-Flexpart耦合模式、GIS空间分析和Vincenty方位角/距离估计等方法,选取2009年9月30日—10月7日发生在中国15个植保站的褐飞虱迁入过程,并根据模式输出、GIS分析和轨迹计算结果探讨了多种大气物理胁迫共存下大气动力场、降水、温度场和湿度场对褐飞虱秋季回迁过程及其降落虫量分布的影响。研究结果表明:(1)此次重大迁飞过程中,大气动力场、降水、温度场和湿度场在不同地区、不同时间段对褐飞虱种群的迁入和降落起了不同的作用,因而造成了迁入虫量分布的时空差异。(2)从各虫源地迁出的褐飞虱种群是向着温暖而湿润的地方迁飞的,迁飞方向主要受所经区域盛行风向的影响,迁飞距离由途径区的风速所决定。(3)当迁飞种群途径局地降水较多的区域时,初期迁入量并不多,经过短暂的一段时间后降虫量会突然增加。(4)在一定的温度范围内,大气湿度条件会影响褐飞虱的迁入虫量:褐飞虱迁入虫量在近地面温度高于26℃、相对湿度(925 hPa)大于70%且下沉气流较强的地区分布最多,而在近地面温度低于24℃、相对湿度(925 hPa)小于50%、无明显下沉气流的地区未发现有褐飞虱的迁入。     

上海地区2007年褐飞虱的后期迁入和虫源地的个例分析

褐飞虱后期迁入是指在8月下旬到9月上旬水稻生育后期出现的异常迁入。分析了2007年上海地区褐飞虱后期迁入种群的虫源性质、迁飞降落过程、大气背景场以及虫源地情况,结果表明:(1)2007年8月下旬到9月初上海地区出现的褐飞虱灯诱高峰为外地迁入峰,迁飞峰次分别为8月2223日,8月2731日。(2)8月2223日降虫主要受台风"圣帕"外围倒槽气流的影响;8月2731日褐飞虱的迁入主要受降雨过程的影响。(3)回推轨迹分析表明:2007年8月下旬到9月初上海地区后期迁入的虫源地主要分布在浙江东南沿海稻区(8月2223日),浙江中、北部(8月2731日),江南稻区北部包括皖南、赣北(8月29日)。(4)以怀宁为代表的皖南虫源地的顺推轨迹分析表明:8月下旬该区早中稻进入生育后期,食料条件恶化,褐飞虱长翅型成虫大量外迁,皖南稻区存在为上海提供虫源的对应关系。(5)虫源地的种植制度、虫源基数和合适的气象条件是导致后期迁入的重要因素。     

褐飞虱卵巢发育及其与迁飞的关系

描述了褐飞虱雌虫卵巢的构造和发育过程中的变化。根据其形态特征,划分为五个发育级。 环境条件对长翅型雌虫卵巢发育有明显的影响。在高温、低温或取食黄熟期水稻时,卵巢发育停滞;光照期对印巢发育无明显影响。证实了揭飞虱雌虫卵巢的发育是受体内保幼激素所控制。 1977年在我国南方稻区五个点上系统解剖捕获的褐飞虱雌虫,观察了卵巢在迁飞过程中的发育状态。在虫源迁出地区,由于水稻黄熟和温度的影响,田间雌虫卵巢出现生殖滞育现象。在迁飞运行中受高空低温和停止取食的影响,卵巢仍处于滞育状态。在迁入区降落后,温度、食料适宜,解除了生殖滞育,卵巢继续发育而定居繁殖。 提出了褐飞虱卵巢发育与迁飞过程关系的模式图。     

褐飞虱的降落机制

应用MM5中尺度数值模拟模式和GRADS气象图形软件,对1999年6月22日～7月2日一次褐飞虱迁飞降落过程及其大气背景场进行了个例研究,并侧重对灵川、东至、徽州3个站点的降虫机制做了分析。结果表明：（1）此次迁飞过程有两个明显的降虫区：天柱．灵川．贺县一线范围内（降虫区Ⅰ）和三都-天柱-黔阳-修水-东至-徽州-奉贤-线（降虫区Ⅱ）;（2）低空急流为褐飞虱北迁提供了运载气流,降虫区位于降水区边缘;（3）地形降水胁迫害虫降落是降虫区Ⅰ褐飞虱降落的主要原因,梅雨锋降水导致了褐飞虱集中降落在降虫区Ⅱ;（4）虫源的空间分布差异和不同的天气条件导致了东至、徽州地区不同的降虫分布。     

2007年广西早稻田褐飞虱发生动态及虫源分析

褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens(Stal)是我国水稻上的重要害虫,近年来在全国连续大暴发,给我国水稻生产造成严重的损失。广西是境外虫源迁入我国的第一站,分析其早稻田褐飞虱的种群动态和迁飞规律,对全国褐飞虱的预测预报和防治工作意义重大。采用田间系统调查与雌虫卵巢系统解剖的方法研究了2007年南宁地区早稻田的褐飞虱发生动态和世代种群特征,分析全区灯诱数据确定迁入高峰期,并运用美国NOAA网站的HYSPLIT平台对2007年广西褐飞虱早期的6段迁入高峰期进行了数值模拟和虫源地分析。结果表明:(1)2007年广西南宁地区褐飞虱在晚熟品种田的发生虫量明显高于早熟品种田,发生、危害期明显延长,为我国北方其他稻区的褐飞虱的迁入积累了充足的虫源基数。(2)确定了南宁地区的早稻田褐飞虱各发生世代的虫源性质。第2代属于大部迁入型;第3代前期属于本地繁殖,部分迁入型,后期属部分迁出型;第4代属于大部分迁出型。(3)4月下旬-5月上旬,虫源地主要分布在越南、老挝中部的地区(18°-20°N);5月中下旬,虫源地主要分布在越南、老挝较北的地区(20°-22°N),部分来自我国海南省和雷州半岛;而6月上旬桂北地区大规模迁入的虫源地主要分布在越南东北部、广西西南部;低空急流为广西褐飞虱大规模迁入提供了运载气流,而当时的降雨是迫使褐飞虱集中降落的主要原因。     

FLEXPART模式模拟褐飞虱回迁的适用性

褐飞虱是威胁我国水稻生产安全的主要害虫之一,已经严重地威胁到我国南方地区水稻的安全生产。褐飞虱作为一种风媒迁飞性昆虫,与大气气溶胶粒子的运动相似。采用褐飞虱迁飞相关参数,利用WRF-FLEXPART模式模拟分析两次褐飞虱秋季回迁过程。通过模拟2013年9月20—24日褐飞虱迁入兴安县的迁飞过程,发现褐飞虱虫量的模拟结果与实验观测到的褐飞虱高空灯诱数据相近、变化趋势一致,相关性达到0.49(P0.01)。褐飞虱迁飞峰的模拟值平均早于观测值1.5h,这可能与褐飞虱起飞迁飞的主动性及其生理特性等有关。模拟2008年10月5—7日一次冷锋无降水天气过程中的褐飞虱迁飞过程,发现此次冷锋南下和降温过程对褐飞虱的回迁影响显著,主要表现在:(1)在迁飞轨迹上,受热带气旋影响,广西、贵州、湖南和广东西部地区以东北风为主,有利于褐飞虱向西南方向的迁飞;(2)在虫量密度分布上,广东中部地区同时具备了较好的动力和温湿条件,促使大量褐飞虱向着该地区(较温暖)迁入,而湖北地区虽以西北—东北风为主,但地面气温较低(低于广东地区),不利于褐飞虱的大量迁入。综上所述,WRF-FLEXPART模式适用于褐飞虱的迁飞模拟且有较好的模拟能力,该研究对我国褐飞虱灾变的准确预警、病虫测报水平的提高具有重要的参考价值。     

ent-Kaurene biosynthesis in a cell-free system from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings and the localisation of ent-kaurene synthetase in plastids of three species

A cell-free system capable of converting [¹⁴C]geranylgeranyl diphosphate to ent-[¹⁴C]kaurene and to an unidentified acid-hydrolysable compound was obtained from the basal portions of 5-d-old shoots of wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L.). By means of marker enzyme activities, the synthesis of ent-kaurene and the unknown compound could be quantitatively assigned to a plastid fraction obtained by Percoll-gradient centrifugation of the homogenate. The enzyme activities were located within the plastids, probably in the stroma, because they withstood trypsin treatment of the intact plastids, and the plastids had to be broken to release the activity, which was then obtained in soluble form. Plastid membranes had no activity. Plastid stroma preparations obtained from pea (Pisum sativum L.) shoot tips and pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima L.) endosperm also yielded ent-kaurene synthetase activity, but did not form the unknown compound. The exact nature of the active plastids was not ascertained, but the use of methods for proplastid isolation was essential for full activity, and the active tissues are all known to contain high proportions of proplastids, developing chloroplasts or leucoplasts. We therefore believe that ent-kaurene synthesis may be limited to these categories. Mature chloroplasts from the wheat leaves did not contain ent-kaurene synthetase activity and did not yield the unknown component. Incorporation of [¹⁴C]geranylgeranyl diphosphate into ent-[¹⁴C]kaurene and the unknown component was assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography with on-line radiocounting. ent-[¹⁴C]Kaurene was identified by Kovats retention index and full mass spectra obtained by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The unknown component was first believed to be copalyl diphosphate, because it yielded a compound on acid hydrolysis, which migrated like copalol on high-performance liquid chromatography and gave a mass spectrum very similar to that of authentic copalol. However, differences in the mass spectrum and in retention time on capillary gas chromatography excluded identity with copalol. Furthermore, the unhydrolysed compound was not converted to ent-kaurene by a cell-free system from C. maxima endosperm as copalyl diphosphate would have been.Abbreviations ADH alcohol dehydrogenase - AMO 1618 2isopropyl-4-(trimethylammoniumchloride)-5-methylphenyl piperi-dine-1-carboxylate - BSA bovine serum albumin - DTT dithioth-reitol - GA_n gibberellin A_n - GAPDH NADP⁺-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase - GC-MS combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry - GGPP all trans-isomer of geranyl-geranyl diphosphate - KS ent-kaurene synthetase - MDH malate dehydrogenase - MAA mevalonate activating activity - SOR shikimate oxidoreductase We thank Mrs. Gudrun Bodtke and Mrs. Dorothee Dasbach for able technical assistance, Prof. L.N. Mander (Australian National University, Canberra, Australia) for ent-[²H₂]kaurene and Dr. Yuji Kamiya (RIKEN, Saitama, Japan) for geranylgeraniol and copalol. The work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Autoradiographic studies on the role of plasmodesmata in the transport of gibberellin

Translocation of [¹⁴C]gibberellic acid into antheridial cells of Chara vulgaris L. was investigated in relation to the presence of symplasmic connections between the antheridium and the thallus. It was found that manubria, capitular cells, and antheridial filaments were about three-fold more strongly labelled in young antheridia connected to the thallus by plasmodesmata than in older antheridia in which spontaneous symplasmic isolation had occurred. Plasmolytically induced symplasmic isolation of young antheridia severely diminished the radioactivity of all the cells, down to the level characteristic for spontaneously isolated antheridia. It is concluded that plasmodesmata are the main channel of gibberellin transport into antheridia. The change in the character of symplasmic connections during the course of morphogenesis might, among other events, constitute a signal determining a shift of cell metabolism in a new direction, in response to a rapid change in gibberellin level.Abbreviations GA_(n) gibberellin (A_n) - GA₃ gibberellic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid This study was supported by the Polish Academy of Sciences research project CPBP 04.01.5.05.     

Spontaneous nodules induce feedback suppression of nodulation in alfalfa

A small subpopulation of alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) plants grown without fixed nitrogen can develop root nodules in the absence of Rhizobium. Cytological studies showed that these nodules were organized structures with no inter- or intracellular bacteria but with the histological characteristics of a normal indeterminate nodule. Few if any viable bacteria were recovered from the nodules after surface sterilization, and when the nodular content was used to inoculate alfalfa roots no nodulation was observed. These spontaneous nodules were formed mainly on the primary roots in the region susceptible to Rhizobium infection between 4 and 6 d after seed imbibition. Spontaneous nodules appeared as early as 10 d after germination and emerged at a rate comparable to normal nodules. The formation of spontaneous nodules on the primary root suppressed nodulation in lateral roots after inoculation with R. meliloti RCR2011. Excision of spontaneous nodules at inoculation eliminated the suppressive response. Our results indicate that the presence of Rhizobium is not required for nodule organogenesis and the elicitation of feedback regulation of nodule formation in alfalfa.Abbreviation RT root tip This work was supported by an endowment to the Racheff Chair of Excellence of the University of Tennessee, and the Soybean Promotion Board, Haskinsville, Tenn., USA. We are indebted to Noel Gerahty for performing the acetylene-reduction assays, and Dr. E.T. Graham for allowing the use of microscope facilities.     

Detection of lectins in nodulated peanut and soybean plants

The direct double-antibody enzymelinked immunosorbent assay system was used in the detection and measurement of seed lectins from peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) plants (PSL and SBL, respectively) that had been inoculated with their respective rhizobia. Concentrations of PSL dropped to undetectable levels in peanut roots at 9 d and stems and leaves at 27 d after planting; SBL could no longer be detected in soybean roots at 9 d and in stems and leaves at 12 d. A lectin antigenically similar to PSL was first detected in root nodules of peanuts at 21 d reaching a maximum of 8 g/g at 29 d then decreasing to 2.5 g/g at 60 d. There was no evidence of a corresponding lectin in soybean nodules.Sugar haemagglutination inhibition tests with neuraminidase-treated human blood cells established that PSL and the peanut nodule lectin were both galactose/lactose-specific. Further tests with rabbit blood cells demonstrated a second mannosespecific lectin in peanut nodule extracts that was not detected in root extracts of four-week-old inoculated plants or six-week-old uninoculated plants, although six-week-old root extracts from inoculated plants showed weak lectin activity. The root extracts from both nodulated and uninoculated plants contained another peanut lectin that agglutinated rabbit but not human blood cells. Haemagglutination by this lectin was, however, not inhibited by simple sugars but a glycoprotein, asialothyroglobulin, was effective in this respect.Abbreviations DAS double antibody sandwich - ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - PSL peanut seed lectin - SBL soybean lectin     

High-and low-intensity photosystems in Phycomyces phototropism: Effects of mutations in genes madA,madB, and madC

Sporangiophores of Phycomyces blakesleeanus Burgeff that have been grown in darkness and are then suddenly exposed to unilateral light show a two-step bending response rather than a smooth, monotonic response found in light-adapted specimens (Galland and Lipson, 1987, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 104–108). The stepwise bending is controlled by two photosystems optimized for the low-and high-intensity ranges. These two photosystems have now been studied in phototropism mutants with defects in genes madA, madB, and madC. All three mutations raise the threshold of the low-intensity (low-fluence) photosystem by about 10⁶-fold and that of the high-intensity (high-fluence) system by about 10³-fold. Estimates for the light-adaptation time constants of the low-and high-intensity photosystems show that the mutants are affected in adaptation. In the mutants, the light-adaptation kinetics are only slightly affected in the low-intensity photosystem but, for the high-intensity photosystem, the kinetics are considerably slower than in the wild type.Abbreviations WT wild type     

Role of red light in hair-whorl formation induced by blue light in Acetabularia mediterranea

After a pre-treatment with red light, hair formation at the growing tip of the siphonaceous green alga Acetabularia mediterranea Lamour. (= A. acetabulum (L.) Silva) can be induced by a pulse of blue light. Red light is needed again after the inductive blue-light pulse if the new whorl of hairs is to develop within the next 24 h. In order to investigate the role of this red light, the duration of the red irradiation was varied and combined with periods of darkness. The response of hair-whorl formation was dependent on the total amount of red light, regardless of whether the red irradiation followed the blue pulse immediately or was separated from it by a period of darkness. Furthermore, periods of exposure to the photosynthesis inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-1dimethylurea had a similar effect to darkness. Both observations indicate that this red irradiation acts as a light source for photosynthesis. Whether or not the red light had an additional effect via phytochrome was tested in another type of experiment. The dependence of hair-whorl formation on red-light irradiance in the presence of simultaneous far-red irradiation was determined for the pre-irradiation period as well as for the irradiation period after the blue pulse. In both experiments, far-red light caused a small promotion of hair-whorl formation when low irradiances of red light were used. However, these differences were attributable to a low level of photosynthetic activity (which in fact was measurable) caused by red light reflected in the growth chamber. Furthermore, lowering the proportion of active phytochrome by far-red light would be expected to suppress hair-whorl formation. The influence of far-red light was also tested in a strain of Acetabularia mediterranea that developed hair whorls in about 20% of cells even when kept in complete darkness after the blue-light pulse. Far-red irradiation had no effect. These results strongly indicate that phytochrome is not involved in hair-whorl formation. Rather it is concluded that the effects of red light are caused by photosynthesis.Abbreviation DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea     

Distribution of glucose/mannose-specific isolectins in pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings

We report on the distribution and initial characterization of glucose/mannose-specific isolectins of 4- and 7-d-old pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings grown with or without nitrate supply. Particular attention was payed to root lectin, which probably functions as a determinant of host-plant specificity during the infection of pea roots by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae. A pair of seedling cotyledons yielded 545±49 g of affinity-purified lectin, approx. 25% more lectin than did dry seeds. Shoots and roots of 4-d-old seedlings contained 100-fold less lectin than cotyledons, whereas only traces of lectin could be found in shoots and roots from 7-d-old seedlings. Polypeptides with a subunit structure similar to the precursor of the pea seed lectin could be demonstrated in cotyledons, shoots and roots. Chromatofocusing and isoelectric focusing showed that seed and non-seed isolectin differ in composition. An isolectin with an isoelectric point at pH 7.2 appeared to be a typical pea seed isolectin, whereas an isolectin focusing at pH 6.1 was the major non-seed lectin. The latter isolectin was also found in root cell-wall extracts, detached root hairs and root-surface washings. All non-seed isolectins were cross-reactive with rabbit antiserum raised against the seed isolectin with an isolectric point at pH 6.1. A protein similar to this acidic glucose/mannose-specific seed isolectin possibly represents the major lectin to be encountered by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae in the pea rhizosphere and at the root surface. Growth of pea seedlings in a nitrate-rich medium neither affected the distribution of isolectins nor their hemagglutination activity; however, the yield of affinity-purified root lectin was significantly reduced whereas shoot lectin yield slightly increased. Agglutination-inhibition tests demonstrated an overall similar sugar-binding specificity for pea seed and non-seed lectin. However root lectin from seedlings grown with or without nitrate supplement, and shoot lectin from nitrate-supplied seedlings showed a slightly different spectrum of sugar binding. The absorption spectra obtained by circular dichroism of seed and root lectin in the presence of a hapten also differed. These data indicate that nutritional conditions may affect the sugar-binding activity of non-seed isolectin, and that despite their similarities, seed and non-seed isolectins have different properties that may reflect tissue-specialization.Abbreviations IEF isoelectric focusing - MW molecular weight - pI isoelectric point - Psl1, Psl2 and Psl3 pea isolectins - SDSPAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis The authors wish to thank Professors L. Kanarek and M. van Poucke for helpful discussions.     

Effects of experimental infection with Eimeria bovis on the balance of sodium, potassium and water in calves

Balance trials were performed to investigate the effects of experimental Eimeria bovis coccidiosis on the metabolism of water, sodium and potassium in calves. Non-infected pair-fed controls and controls fed according to plan were included in the study to allow differentiation between the effects due to infection and due to changes in feed intake. Primary infection with 5 × 10⁴ (group A) or 1 × 10⁵ (group B) oocysts caused mild diarrhoea in three out of four group A calves and mild to severe haemorrhagic diarrhoea in all five group B calves. Losses of sodium and potassium via faeces tended to increase in the infected calves during patency and apparent digestibility (AD) of these minerals was comparably low. In the urine of the infected calves the Na/K-ratio decreased due to a reduced urinary excretion of sodium. The retention (RT) of sodium was particularly high in the calves that had received the higher oocyst dose. Potassium RT did not underlie significant changes during the course of coccidiosis. In the infected calves the plasma level of sodium was reduced transiently while the level of potassium remained fairly stable. Infections with the higher oocyst dose caused a distinct reduction of fluid excretion via urine which compensated for the increased faecal water losses during severe diarrhoea. Reinfection of the group A calves with 1 × 10⁵ oocysts did not cause any significant metabolic impairment. The results of this study indicate that although acute sublethal bovine coccidiosis alters electrolyte and water metabolism the overall balance of electrolytes and water is largely maintained by physiologic adaptation.     

The measurement of ethylene binding and metabolism in plant tissue

Methods are described for the rigorous measurement of C₂H₄ metabolism and C₂H₄ binding in plant tissue. Comparisons are drawn between the results obtained using other methods and those which emerge from our studies, indicating that significant misapprehensions may have arisen in relation both to the distribution of metabolism and binding.     

Distribution and status of bustards in China

This article presents the distribution and status of bustards, which are listed as first-category protected animals according to the survey results during 1990–2002 in China. The Chinese populations of Otis tarda dybowskii are breeding in south-west of Heilongjiang Province, western Jilin Province, east and middle Inner Mongolia, north Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and Gansu Province. A few can winter in the south breeding-range. Its winter-range lies from the south to the Yellow River, as far as to Guizhou Province and Jiangxi Province. Its population number is about 200–300 or 500–800. The Chinese populations of O. t. tarda are breeding in the north and west of Xinjiang. It is unclear about its winter-range, which is presumed to be in south Asia. Recently we found individuals wintering in Chabuchaer and west Xinjiang. The population number is about 2000–3000. The habitat in breeding range includes steppe, grassland, desert grassland, and farmland. The habitat in winter range is the beach of rivers and lakes, meadows, meadow-grassland, and wheatland. The Chinese populations of Chlamydotis undulata macqueeni are breeding in the fringe of the Jungar Basin, the banks of the Ulungur River, Balikun and south Turpan Basin in Xinjiang, west Inner Mongolia, and west Gansu. NortheastMulei in eastern Jungar Basin of Xinjiang is the main breeding-range in the world. The bird uses desert and desert grassland as its habitat. Its winter-range is west Asia and south Asia. Its population number is about 2000. The Chinese populations of Tetrax tetrax are breeding in north Xinjiang, and China is located on the east border of its breeding-range. Its habitat is grassland and semi-desert, and its winter-range lies in south Asia. Its population in China is very scarce. In addition, we analyzed the causes of their endangerment and put forward protection tactics of Chinese Bustards. __________ Translated from Arid Zone Research, 2007, 24(2): 179–186 [译自: 干旱区研究]